Wendy Charles, PhD, CIP, CCRP, CBP
Dr. Charles currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer for BurstIQ, a health information technology company that specializes in multi-dimensional data networks. Prior to her current role, she alternated between clinical research operations and compliance roles at academic medical centers and research organizations. She is passionate about advancing regulatory compliance for innovative health information technologies and serves on several international committees that advise governments and industry groups about standards and regulatory interpretations. She earned her doctorate in clinical science with a specialty in health information technology from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, her master of science degree in psychology from The University of Memphis, and her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Colorado. She is certified as an IRB Professional, Clinical Research Professional, and Blockchain Professional. She teaches about Health Information Technology in the campus health administration program.
Andrew French, MD
Dr. French is the Vice President/Physician Executive for Quality, Safety, and Clinical Operations with Centura Health where he oversees the quality, patient safety, and regulatory programs as well as medical staff services. He also acts as the medical director of the Centura Health Transfer Center. Prior to his current role, Dr. French held the position of Chief Medical Officer at St. Anthony North Health Campus preceded by serving as the Chief Medical Officer at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital. Before joining Centura Health in 2018, Dr. French was the medical director of the Denver Health Adult Emergency Department. He received his bachelor of arts in Biology from Austin College in Sherman Texas and completed medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston Texas. Dr. French completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at Denver Health Medical Center and graduated from the CU Denver Business School with his MBA in Healthcare Administration.
Tom Gronow, EdD, MHA
COO, University of Colorado Hospital
Dr. Gronow currently serves as the chief operating officer at the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH). Previously, he served as vice president of operations at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, PA, where he began his healthcare career as an administrative fellow in 2007. Outside of his professional work, Dr. Gronow was a member of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) accreditation committee, serving as a commissioner from 2012-2018. He is passionate about healthcare education and serves as a leader for the fellowship and internship programs that are administered through UCH. He is also a board member for Donor Alliance. Dr. Gronow received his doctor of education from George Washington University, master of health administration from the University of South Florida, and a bachelor of science in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He also holds a certification as a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. He teaches Healthcare Systems for the campus health administration program.
Heather A. Haugen, PhD
CSO, Atos
Dr. Haugen has deep expertise in health information technology and a passion for research and the application of those outcomes to the challenges that currently exist in healthcare. She is the Chief Science Officer for Atos in their Digital Health Solutions division. Prior to her current role, she was the CEO and Managing Director of The Breakaway Group, A Xerox Company. She has served in research, development and information systems leadership roles. Her past roles have led to a unique mix of experience, including conducting rigorous research, leading development efforts based on research outcomes, and leading and developing top-performing teams. She holds a faculty position at the CU Denver-Anschutz Medical Center as the Director of Health Information Technology. Dr. Haugen earned her doctorate in health information technology from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, her master of science degree in clinical nutrition from Colorado State University, and her bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Denver. She teaches Management of Health Information Technology in the campus health administration program.
Jeffrey Helton, PhD, CMA, CFE, FHFMA
Dr. Helton holds a clinical faculty appointment in health care finance at the University of Colorado Denver. He also holds an adjunct faculty appointment in healthcare management at UCLA. The majority of his career has been spent as the chief financial officer for several health care systems across the United States, where he led several turnarounds of organizations previously in bankruptcy or receivership. Dr. Helton earned a doctorate of philosophy in public health from the University of Texas, a master of science in hospital and health administration from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and a bachelor of science in business administration from Eastern Kentucky University. He currently teaches courses in health economics, health care finance, and operations management in the campus and executive health administration programs.
Donald Jacobs, MS, CPA, CCP
President, Inteck, Inc.
Mr. Jacobs has more than 50 years of information processing experience, the last 40 of which have been in healthcare. He is the founder and owner of Inteck, Inc., a healthcare information technology consulting firm, which began in 1982. Previously, Mr. Jacobs was a partner and the national director of computer services for an international public accounting firm. He was a member of that firm's international healthcare committee. He is the part-time CEO of a hospital in Alaska and has guided them to implement an EHR for their healthcare system. Formerly, he was the corporate director of data processing (CIO) for a multi-hospital organization in Arizona. He teaches Management of Health Information Technology for the campus health administration program.
Pamela Jones, PhD
Dr. Jones provides strategic planning and business development consulting support for integrated health systems and new clinical programs. She has held appointments as a clinical instructor of pediatrics at the CU Denver/Anschutz Medical Center School of Medicine and as an assistant professor and executive director of the CU College of Nursing's Faculty Practice based at the CU Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus College of Nursing. Dr. Jones earned a bachelor of science in health and physical education from Colorado State University, a master's in special studies in applied communication from the University of Denver, and a doctorate of philosophy in public administration with a focus in health policy from the University of Colorado Denver. She teaches the health section of Marketing Dynamics in the 21st Century.
Gregory Piché, JD
Mr. Piché is the founder and owner of Singularity Health Law, PLLC, a healthcare practice firm. Prior to this role he practiced healthcare law at Holland & Hart and a tributary firm and served as leader of the firm's healthcare practice group for more than 20 years. Mr. Piché has managed a wide variety of healthcare legal representation in both counseling and litigation for and on behalf of hospitals, physicians, physician networks, limited license providers, nursing homes, durable medical equipment providers, home health agencies, healthcare service providers, and managed care companies. He is a frequent speaker, author, and expert on legal issues facing healthcare providers. Mr. Piché received his Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University and bachelor of arts in economics from the University of Michigan. He teaches the health section of Legal and Ethical Environment of Business for the campus health administration program.
Roger A. Ritvo, PhD
Professor of Management Emeritus at Auburn University Montgomery (AL)
Dr. Ritvo is the Distinguished Research Professor of Management Emeritus at Auburn University Montgomery (AL) and was presented with the Teaching Excellence Award in the College of Business for the 2013-2014 academic year. He also serves as a Lecturer in the MBA and Health Administration programs at the University of Colorado Denver’s Business School.
Professor Ritvo has held faculty and administrative roles at Case Western Reserve University (Assistant Dean), Cleveland State University (program director), the University of New Hampshire (Dean), and Auburn University Montgomery (Vice-Chancellor). Selected professional recognitions include being named the University of New Hampshire’s “Administrator of the Year” and receiving the Certificate of Merit by its Women’s Commission. He has served as Senior Policy Advisor to two Secretaries of the US Department of Health & Human Services in Washington, DC.
His primary research focus is on nonprofit organizational governance and leadership. Recent scholarship has focused on NGOs in post-Soviet societies. He has been a Visiting Scholar at the Ukrainian Catholic University (2017) and was previously selected twice as a Fulbright Scholar: Azerbaijan (2005) and then to the former Soviet Republic of Georgia (2012). Additional research and teaching have been in Latvia (Fall 2014). A prolific author, Professor Ritvo has published nine books and numerous articles, including many co-authored with colleagues and several with students. In addition, Professor Ritvo has taught and conducted training programs in Sierra Leone, Latvia, Azerbaijan, the Republic of Georgia, Trinidad, Canada, Ukraine, South Africa, India, and England. He served two terms on the Board of Directors of NTL Institute where his colleagues named him as an “Emeritus” Member in 2013.
Roger is proud to volunteer with his daughter at the United States Figure Skating Association national championships where he opens and closes the door so the skaters can go on the ice when called.
Holly Church, FACHE, CPCS, CPMSM, MBA-HA
Ms. Church is the Director of Medical Staff Services at Saint Joseph Hospital. She graduated from the CU Denver Business School with her MBA in Healthcare Administration and is an American College of Healthcare Executives Fellow. She serves on multiple community Boards, including the Healthcare Leadership Advisory Board at the University of Denver | University College, the Denver Medical Study Group Advisory Board, and the Colorado Association of Medical Staff Services Board. Holly is also the Vice Board Chair, after serving over a decade as the Executive Director, for Global Health Connections (GHC), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for individuals to connect, engage, and solve global health issues. In July 2014, Holly helped GHC open a birthing center that provides clean and safe care to women and infants throughout the Leogane region in Haiti. Holly now helps oversee Community Health and Empowerment Clubs in Kenya. She is passionate about advancing the healthcare environment by improving the delivery of quality services, both locally and globally. She teaches International Health Policy & Management for the campus health administration program.
